HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 09b - Arcadia Womans Club Landmark
DATE: March 1, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director
Lisa L. Flores, Planning & Community Development Administrator
By: Fiona Graham, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7412 HISTORIC LANDMARK NO. HL 21-01 WITH A
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (“CEQA”) TO LANDMARK THE
ARCADIA WOMAN’S CLUB AT 324 SOUTH 1ST AVENUE
Recommendation: Adopt
SUMMARY
The Applicants, Cheryl Alberg and Marilyn Daleo on behalf of the Arcadia Woman’s Club,
a non-profit organization, are requesting that the City Council approve Historical
Landmark No. HL 21-01 and designate the Arcadia Woman’s Club building as a historical
local landmark at 324 S. 1st Avenue. It is recommended that the City Council find that
this landmark designation is categorically exempt under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”) and adopt Resolution No. 7412 (Attachment No. 1) approving the
designation.
BACKGROUND
On November 15, 2021, the President of the Arcadia Woman’s Club applied to designate
their property as a historical landmark. The subject property is a 14,115 square foot corner
lot that is located at the northeast corner of S. 1st Avenue and Diamond Street, fronting
west onto S. 1st Avenue – refer to Attachment No. 3. The site is improved with a 5,224
square foot one-story building that was constructed in 1931, as shown below. The site
has decorative landscaping and mature growth trees including oak and ash trees with a
non-original, brick-topped stucco wall with wrought-iron front entry gate in front of the
property. The property has always been owned by the Arcadia Woman’s Club, a non-
profit organization. The building is currently used for a variety of community-focused,
events and philanthropic activities.
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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Arcadia Woman’s Club building location at 324 S 1st Avenue.
As part of the nomination process, the building was evaluated for local designation by a
professional Architectural Historian, Evanne St. Charles from Architectural Resources
Group (“ARG”). Refer to Attachment No. 2 for the Historical Evaluation.
The Arcadia Woman’s Club building was built by the Arcadia Woman’s Club to serve as
its headquarters and events space. The building has been continuously used by the
Arcadia Woman’s Club since its construction. The building reflects a Spanish Colonial
Revival architectural style. The one-story, L-shaped building is made of brick, textured
stucco, and wood frame construction. The historic west facing façade is asymmetrical,
reflecting the 1931 original façade to the north, and the 1941 foyer addition to the south
created the building’s L-shaped plan.
The front of the building features a covered porch, and a wood sign reading “The
Woman’s Club of Arcadia” hangs from the porch roof. The south facing building that fronts
Diamond Street has a single, unornamented wood door covered by a small stucco canopy
with a clay tile roof and curving supports. This door is accessed by a set of concrete steps
with metal railings. The eastern most portion of the façade is part of a 1941 sunroom
addition which has a small concrete and stucco porch with steps and metal railings. This
area contains two other secondary entries. The building’s north façade largely abuts the
parcel’s northern boundary and fronts on a surface parking lot that is not associated with
the Woman’s Club.
324 S. 1st
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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Arcadia Woman’s Club building, eastern façade as seen from S. 1st Avenue.
Southern façade of the Arcadia Woman’s Club building as seen from Diamond Street.
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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Looking south-east toward the front façade of the Arcadia Woman’s Club
and the 1941 foyer addition. Diamond Street is behind the wall.
Front façade of the Arcadia Woman’s Club. Visible is the covered porch
and hanging wood sign. To the right is the 1941 foyer addition.
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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Since its original construction in 1931, the property has undergone two major changes.
Concurrent with the growth and success of the Arcadia Woman’s Club, the clubhouse
building was enlarged with additions at the primary and rear façades. Other than these
additions, the greatest alterations to the structure have been repairs and retrofits following
the 1987 Whittier-Narrows earthquake. The following is a list of known and identified
alterations to the property since its construction:
1931 Permit issued to erect a building at 324 S. 1st Avenue.
1941 Permit issued for the addition of a sunroom (at the east façade) and foyer (at
the southwest end of the building).
1973 Permit issued to re-roof entire tiled roof with new tiles.
1988 Permit issued to replace the west window, reconstruct the southwest wall,
replace the chimney, and repair and reconstruct the north wall and porch due to
earthquake damage. Portions of the building were also sandblasted and re-
stuccoed at this time, and stucco was removed from the porch entrance leaving
exposed brick cladding.
Permit issued for a garden/retaining wall project consisting of a 105 linear foot
wall with two gates.
1992 Permit issued for a structural retrofit.
1993 Permit issued to replace floor heater, repair floor joists and beams joists and
repair other fire damage.
2015 Permit issued to remove roof tile, replace underlayment, and reinstall existing
tile.
In addition to the above known changes, there are also several observed alterations for
which documentation could not be identified. These include:
• All original stucco wall cladding replaced with a rougher textured stucco (likely in
1988 during earthquake repair work)
• Brick pathway replaced with concrete
• Air conditioning units added
• Shutters added
• Secondary door replaced
• Secondary entrance railing added
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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DISCUSSION
In determining whether a potential historic resource should be designated a historic
landmark, the City Council must consider, among other relevant factors, the following
designation criteria and find that the resource meets at least one of these criteria:
1. It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad
patterns of Arcadia's or California's history;
2. It is associated with the lives of persons important to local or California history;
3. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of
construction, or represents the work of master, or possesses high artistic values;
4. It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory
or history of the City or State.
Based on the historical evaluation that was prepared by Architectural Resources Group
(ARG), the building meets two of the four criteria, which are Criteria Nos. 1 and 3, on the
basis the building was associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the broad patterns of the City’s history, and the architectural style of the building being
Spanish Colonial Revival. These findings are further discussed below.
The potential historic resource must also be at least 45 years of age, unless it can be
demonstrated that the resource has achieved exceptional importance within the last 45
years (Development Code Section 9103.17.060(C)). The building was constructed in
1931, making it 91 years old in 2022, meeting the age requirement.
Criterion 1: It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the broad patterns of Arcadia's or California's history.
Facts to Support This Criteria: The Arcadia Woman’s Club building is significant under
this criterion for its association with early institutional development in the City. Home to
one of the City’s oldest community organizations, the Arcadia Woman’s Club building
has served as the location of numerous Club events, lectures, philanthropy endeavors,
and military relief programs utilizing the building as a United Service Organizations
(“USO”) and Red Cross station throughout much of World War II for the benefit of
members and fellow Arcadians. Constructed in 1931, the building has functioned as the
home of the Arcadia Woman’s Club for 90 years and has played a crucial role in
developing community engagement in the City. The information below explains the
significant contribution this property and building have made to Arcadia’s history.
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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Institutional Development in Arcadia (1910-1935)
Arcadia was established as a town in the late 1800’s. A small business district and the
area’s earliest residences began growing in the 1880s, but minimal institutional
development occurred until after the turn of the 20th century. The City incorporated in
1903 and by 1904, had a school district, a city newspaper, and a number of active liquor
licenses. Residential growth was slow and institutional development was negligible with
no churches or other social organizations beyond the school and newspaper operating
in Arcadia for a few years after incorporation.
The most crucial developments around time were in the realm of infrastructure, notably
transportation networks of railroads, streetcar lines, and roads. These networks were
key to the success of early Arcadia.
In the late 1910s, institutional development began to increase primarily in the form of
schools. First Avenue School (originally Arcadia Grammar School; 301 S. 1st Ave.) was
constructed with 1919 bond funds to serve over 200 students, and in 1926 it was joined
by Holly Avenue School at 360 W. Duarte Rd. As the city’s population continued to grow,
the need for a permanent location for its local governing bodies was apparent. In 1918,
Arcadia completed its first City Hall (no longer extant) at the northwest corner of
Huntington Drive and 1st Avenue.
Other institutions established during the 1910s and 1920s included an American Legion
post, a public library, a Chamber of Commerce, several fraternal orders, a riding and
hunting club, a baseball club, a golf club, and the Woman’s Club of Arcadia. Few of
these institutional resources from the period between 1910-1935 remain intact in the
city, making the Woman’s Club building a rare and important example of early
institutional development in Arcadia.
The Woman’s Club of Arcadia
The Arcadia Woman’s Club was first organized as a social club in 1914 by Alice Billings.
Soon, the organization’s endeavors turned to philanthropy, civic improvement, and
promotional work for the city, aligning with many fraternal and sororal collectives that were
initiated throughout the country after the turn of the 20th century. The group was originally
known as the “Co-operative Arcadians” and early meetings were held in various
member’s homes, community halls, and eventually Arcadia City Hall.
In addition to lectures and philanthropic activity, the Arcadia Woman’s Club’s earliest
projects included annual floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade and the creation of a
small library and reading room. This library was the first Los Angeles County library
branch to open within the City of Arcadia, and while City Council paid the rental fee for
the library space, all books, furnishings, programming, and employee pay were provided
by the Woman’s Club. In 1920, a successful ballot measure assured that the City was
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
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March 1, 2022
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finally able to fund a municipal library, and the new collection was given a small room in
City Hall.
Wartime efforts dominated the activities of the Woman’s Club following the United States’
entry into World War I. The Arcadia women organized support for the Red Cross as well
as local military outposts like the Ross Field Balloon School. One of the Woman’s Club’s
most successful fundraisers sold ice cream and soft drinks at the Balloon School during
an Army air show. Other early projects included the construction of a public drinking
fountain and the beautification of the Second Avenue Park.
In 1920, the Cooperative Arcadians organization had grown large enough to join the Los
Angeles District and California Federation of Women’s Clubs, whereby the group officially
changed their name to “The Woman’s Club of Arcadia”, and by 1924 the Arcadia Club
had joined the National Federation as well.
The Arcadia Woman’s Club’s commitment to horticulture and city beautification came to
fruition in 1926 when the group hosted Arcadia’s first flower show, the Chrysanthemum
Fete. The successful event became an annual showcase for the Club’s active Garden
Section. Later floral events included the Peach Blossom Festival and countless garden
parties, luncheons, and fundraisers. Other sections throughout the Club’s history have
included groups dedicated to Public Affairs, Travel, Music and Choral, Arts and Crafts,
Drama, Law, Literature, Philanthropy, the Conservation of Wildlife, the Bible, and
California History and Landmarks.
By 1925 the Woman’s Club, consistently growing in membership, realized the need for a
permanent clubhouse. A fundraiser began that year, and in 1930 the organization
purchased the two lots at the corner of S. 1st Avenue and Diamond Street for $1,800.
Fundraising for the new clubhouse was a primary concern of the Woman’s Club for many
years, and money was raised through private donations, luncheons, bake sales, and
entertainment events.
Plans for the building were drawn by Monrovia Architect Frank O. Eager, and the
construction contract was awarded to Arcadia builder C.P. Cassady. Construction was
planned in three phases, with the clubhouse meeting hall as phase one that was set at
the back of the two lots to allow for a foyer addition, which was phase two, and then a
larger auditorium, as phase three, which was never built. A groundbreaking ceremony
was held on May 4, 1931, and the dedication of the clubhouse was held on July 30, 1931.
In 1941, the second phase of clubhouse construction added a foyer to the west of the
original building and a sunroom to the east. This was also completed by builder C.P.
Cassady. The timing of this construction was convenient as the added space allowed the
Woman’s Club to organize quickly and efficiently to once again be of service to wartime
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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efforts. The clubhouse served as a United Service Organizations (USO) and Red Cross
station throughout much of World War II. Club members organized entertainment for
soldiers, housed the families of servicemen and women, and sold over $20,000 in war
bonds. The Woman’s Club estimates that by the end of 1945, approximately 10,000
service people had used the Club’s facilities.
The postwar period marked a renewed interest in civic investment outside the realm of
military support, and the organization was able to focus on other activities and
fundraisers. Since that time, the Arcadia Woman’s Club has continued to serve the
community through regular programming and special events such as hosting athletes and
coaches during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. Today, the
organization promotes and supports causes such as the Domestic Violence Action
Coalition and the Pennies for Pines Reforestation Project.
In 2021, the Woman’s Club celebrated the 90th anniversary of the clubhouse at 324 S.
1st Avenue. The organization remains committed to community engagement and civic
investment through fundraisers, volunteering activities, and monthly meetings.
Criterion 3: It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or
method of construction, or represents the work of master, or possesses high
artistic values.
Facts to Support This Criteria: The Arcadia Woman’s Club building is significant under
this criterion because the building embodies the distinctive characteristics of the
Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style. The subject property is a refined and
relatively modest example of that style applied to an institutional building. The building
remains relatively intact and retains many important features of Spanish Colonial
Revival architecture. Character defining features of the building’s exterior include:
cross-gable roof covered in clay tiles, stucco cladding, covered entrance porch
supported by wood posts with brick flooring, and fixed and double-hung wood windows.
The information below further explains why this building is a good example of this style.
Spanish Colonial Revival architecture gained widespread popularity throughout
Southern California after the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. The
exposition’s buildings were designed by Architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who
wished to go beyond the popular Mission architectural interpretations of the state’s
colonial past and highlight the richness of Spanish precedents found throughout Latin
America. The exposition prompted other designers to look directly to Spain for
architectural inspiration. The Spanish Colonial Revival style was an attempt to create a
“native” California architectural style that drew upon and romanticized the state’s
colonial past.
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March 1, 2022
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The versatility of the style, allowing for builders and architects to construct buildings as
simple or as lavish as desired, made the style popular throughout Southern California.
The style’s adaptability also lent its application to a variety of building types, including
single- and multi-family residences, commercial properties, and institutional buildings.
Spanish Colonial Revival architecture often borrowed from other styles such as
Churrigueresque, Gothic Revival, Moorish Revival, or Art Deco. The style is
characterized by its complex building forms, stucco-clad wall surfaces, and clay tile
roofs.
Spanish Colonial Revival architecture remained popular through the 1930s, with later
versions simpler in form and ornamentation. A prevalent Period Revival style in Arcadia,
Spanish Colonial Revival is typically applied to single-family residential properties in
neighborhoods south of Huntington Drive. However, there are several institutional
buildings in the city that are also designed in the style.
The Arcadia Woman’s Club building retains original and significant Spanish Colonial
Revival architectural features including the following:
• The original covered porch with square wood posts, brick floor and stucco
ceiling;
• Stucco building exterior;
• Red clay roof tiles;
• Low-pitched, cross-gable roof form;
• Architectural details such as exposed rafter tails, clay tile coping, and small
decorative pipe vents with grilles;
• Multi-pane casement and double hung windows with decorative shutters;
• Three sets of fully glazed wood French doors lining the porch; and
• L-shaped building footprint.
Additionally, the building is in a prominent corner location, setback from the street and
is surrounded by lawn and mature trees.
The building was designed by Frank O. Eager, who ran an architectural firm, Eager &
Eager in Los Angeles. Eager & Eager designed a wide range of buildings including
residences, business buildings, schools, and other institutional structures in Southern
California and Nevada.
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Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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In addition to the requirements listed above, an individual resource must satisfy at least
one of the following requirements:
1. It is listed on the National and/or California Register of Historic Places
The subject site is not listed on the National or California Register of Historic
Places.
2. It is an iconic property
The Arcadia Woman’s Club building is an iconic property within the City because
the building has undergone relatively few changes in the last 90+ years. The
property houses one of the oldest institutions in the City, the Arcadia Woman’s
Club. The Arcadia Woman’s Club has a long history of supporting the City, its
residents, and the community, and is inextricably linked with the City’s history
and development over the past century.
ARG has assigned the building with a California Historical Resource Status Code
3CS/5S3 - appears eligible for individual listing in the California Register and as an
Arcadia Landmark. If the building is designated as a local landmark, the status code
would change to the Status Code of 5S1 – individual property that is listed or designated
locally.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
The historical landmark application was presented to the Historic Preservation
Commission at their meeting on January 25, 2022, for consideration and recommendation
to the City Council – refer to Attachment No. 4 for the Historic Preservation Commission
Resolution No. 2086, Historic Preservation Commission Staff Report, and excerpt of the
approved minutes. The Commissioners held a discussion on the item, agreeing that the
property meets Criteria 1 and 3, and that the property is iconic, especially because many
other buildings constructed around the same time have been demolished. After
discussion, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Historical
Landmark application to the City Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
It has been determined that the designation of a historic resource is categorically exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines pursuant to Section
15308, Class 8, which pertains to actions by regulatory agencies for the protection of the
environment, and includes historic structures. Refer to Attachment No. 5 for the
Preliminary Exemption Assessment.
Historic Landmark No. 21-01
Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 South 1st Avenue
March 1, 2022
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PUBLIC COMMENTS/NOTICE
Public hearing notices for this item were mailed to the owners of those properties that are
located within 300 feet of the subject property and published in the Arcadia Weekly on
February 17, 2022. As of February 24, 2022, staff did not receive any concerns or
comments related to the historical designation.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of a landmark will not have any fiscal impact on the City. However, there will be
a one-time cost for the design artwork and then to produce the historic plaque. It is
estimated that this one-time cost will be approximately $600, and then $200 for every
plaque thereafter. The Development Services Department has the funds to cover this cost
in its current operating budget; therefore, no additional funds are required from the
General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council find that the project is categorically exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution No. 7412,
approving Historic Landmark No. HL 21-02 and designating the Arcadia Woman’s Club
building at 324 South 1st Avenue as a historical landmark.
Attachment No. 1: Resolution No. 7412
Attachment No. 2: Historical Evaluation of the Arcadia Woman’s Club
Attachment No. 3: Photos of the Property
Attachment No. 4: Historic Preservation Commission Resolution No. 2086, Staff
Report, dated January 25, 2022, and excerpt of the Historic
Preservation Commission Minutes, dated January 25, 2022.
NOTE: The attachments to the HC Staff Report are not attached
here since they have been provided as part of this staff report.
Attachment No. 5: Preliminary Exemption Assessment
Attachment No. 1
Arcadia Woman’s Club Historic Landmark Nomination September 10, 2021
ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES GROUP 1
Arcadia Woman’s Club
Historic Landmark Nomination
A.Property Description
Site
The Arcadia Woman’s Club (Woman’s Club of Arcadia) building is located at 324 S. 1st Avenue in central
Arcadia, to the east of Santa Anita and Arcadia County parks and to the south of the commercial
development surrounding Huntington Drive. The topography of the area is relatively flat, and the street
pattern is a regular grid resultant from planned development along streetcar lines.1 Multi-family
residential buildings predominate in this section of Arcadia with commercial and institutional
development located along larger thoroughfares.
The subject property is located at the northeast corner of S. 1st Avenue and Diamond Street, fronting
west onto S. 1st Avenue. The building is set back on a square-shaped parcel with lawn to the west and
south dotted with decorative landscaping and mature growth trees including oak and ash. A circa 2016
commemorative bench dedicated to former Club president Floretta Lauber is set amongst decorative
foliage on the property’s front lawn. A non-original, brick-topped stucco wall with wrought iron entry
gates encloses the lawn fronting the building’s primary entrance, and a gently curving concrete walkway
leads from the front gate to the entrance. A 1941 sunroom addition at the rear (east) of the building
abuts the adjoining parcel.
Building – Exterior
The Woman’s Club building was constructed in 1931 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The one-story
building has an essentially L-shaped plan and is of brick and wood frame construction. It is capped with a
cross-gable clay tiled roof featuring exposed rafter tails, clay tile coping, and small decorative pipe vents
with grilles. A reconstructed exterior stucco chimney is located at the south façade. The building is clad
in brick and textured stucco.
The historic primary (west) façade is asymmetrical, reflecting the 1931 original façade to the north and a
1941 foyer addition to the south which creates the building’s L-shaped plan. The 1931 portion of the
west façade is clad in brick and features a nearly full-width recessed entrance porch, which has a brick
floor laid in a basketweave pattern. The porch is flush with the concrete walkway from S. 1st Avenue. Its
roof is supported by square wood posts embellished with rounded capitals and topped by horizontal
beams. Some of the posts are connected by simple metal railings. The porch’s ceiling is clad in textured
stucco and has compatible metal light fixtures. A wood sign reading “The Woman’s Club of Arcadia”
1 Architectural Resources Group, “Arcadia Citywide Historic Resources Survey Report,” Prepared for the City of
Arcadia, Development Services, Planning Division, 2017, 40.
Attachment No. 2
Arcadia Woman’s Club Historic Landmark Nomination September 10, 2021
ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES GROUP 2
hangs from the porch roof. Fenestration at the 1931 portion of the west façade includes two single
doors at opposite ends of the entryway and three sets of French doors. The primary door is a wide,
unornamented wood door located at the southern wall of the porch. It is mirrored by a smaller wood
door with a wood screen at the northern wall underneath the porch. The regularly spaced French doors
are wood, fully glazed, and multi-light, and have transoms that have been infilled with air conditioning
units and wood panels. Two of the three French doors have wood screens and each set of doors is
accessed by a shallow brick step. The northmost portion of the west façade, adjacent to the entry porch,
is a smaller volume clad in textured stucco and containing two pairs of multi-light wood casement
windows.
To the south of the porch is the 1941 foyer addition, which is clad in textured stucco and has a front-
gabled roof. Its west façade contains a large, fixed vinyl replacement window on the west end, and its
north façade (perpendicular to the porch) contains two pairs of steel, multi-light, casement windows
flanked by matching fixed sidelights.
The building’s south façade fronts on Diamond Street; its western portion is the 1941 foyer addition,
while its eastern portion is primarily the 1931 volume. The 1941 portion contains a secondary entrance:
a single, unornamented wood door covered by a small stucco canopy with a clay tile roof and curving
supports. The door is accessed by a set of concrete steps with metal railings. This portion of the façade
contains a pair of multi-light steel casement windows flanked by fixed sidelights and wood shutters. The
eastern portion of the façade contains multiple single, multi-light fixed wood windows and multiple
single, wood double-hung windows. The eastmost portion of the façade is part of a 1941 sunroom
addition; recessed from the rest of the façade, it is fronted by a small concrete and stucco porch with
steps and metal railings, which is covered by a shed-roofed, clay tile-covered canopy with simple wood
post supports. This area contains two other secondary entries; one is a single wood door and the other
is a set of fully glazed wood French doors with divided lights.
The east (rear) façade is adjacent to the parcel’s lot line, which is marked by a concrete masonry unit
wall. This façade represents the bulk of the 1941 sunroom addition. Multi-light steel casement windows
with fixed sidelights are the only fenestration at this rear façade. Access to the shallow pathway
separating the east façade from the wall at the property line is granted by a wrought iron gate.
The building’s north façade largely abuts the parcel’s northern boundary and fronts on a surface parking
lot that is not associated with the Woman’s Club. Fenestration at this façade includes a small door and a
single double-hung wood window.
Building – Interior
The interior of the Woman’s Club building is characterized by a large rectangular auditorium with a
raised stage, and back-of-house kitchen occupying the majority of the building’s original footprint.
Additions in 1941 expanded the interior to include a sizable foyer at the southwest end and a sunroom
Arcadia Woman’s Club Historic Landmark Nomination September 10, 2021
ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES GROUP 3
along the rear (east) edge of the building. Restrooms, a dressing room, and storage spaces comprise the
rest of the interior.
The main entry foyer is entered from either the porch at the building’s primary (west) façade or the
exterior door at the south façade, which has become the building’s de facto main entrance. The foyer,
which provides access to the auditorium, has plaster wall and ceiling finishes and non-original carpet
and laminate flooring. Simple plaster pilasters that arch to cross the ceiling demarcate the junction
between the 1931 and 1941 portions of the building. Other details include small recessed, arched nooks,
and a non-operational plaster fireplace with a corbeled wood mantel, painted-over tile surround, and
reddish brown glazed tile hearth.
An arched doorway with arched, paneled wood double doors leads from the foyer into the auditorium,
which reaches double-height under the primary roofline. The auditorium retains wood flooring, plaster
wall and ceiling finishes, and a wood truss ceiling with polychromatic painted ornamentation on its
crossbeams. The raised stage is located at the north end of the room and is flanked by arched doorways
leading to a bathroom, dressing room, and storage space. Additional access to the auditorium is
provided by three mirrored sets of French doors leading to the porch (at the west wall) and sunroom (at
the east wall). Single paneled wood doors provide additional access to the sunroom, kitchen, and foyer.
Secondary spaces, including the kitchen, bathrooms, storage space, and dressing room, are utilitarian in
character and comprise plaster walls and primarily carpet or tile flooring. These spaces do not appear to
retain any original finishes or fixtures.
Building Chronology and Alterations
Concurrent with the growth and success of the Arcadia Woman’s Club, the clubhouse building was
enlarged with planned additions at the primary and rear façades. Other than these additions, the
greatest alterations to the structure have been repairs and retrofits following the 1987 Whittier-
Narrows earthquake.
1931 Permit issued to erect a building at 324 S. 1st Avenue. The Woman’s Club of
Arcadia is listed as the owner, and C.P. Cassady is listed as the builder (Permit No.
2476).
1941 Permit issued for the addition of a sunroom (at the east façade) and foyer (at the
southwest end of the building). C.P. Cassady is the builder (Permit No. 5725).
Arcadia Woman’s Club Historic Landmark Nomination September 10, 2021
ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES GROUP 4
1947 The Woman’s Club of Arcadia deeded the westerly ten feet of lots 1 and 2, block
64 ½, Santa Anita Tract, to the City of Arcadia for street and highway purposes
(Resolution No. 1471).
1973 Permit issued to re-roof entire tiled roof with new tiles (Permit No. 43046).
1988 Permit issued to replace the west window, reconstruct the southwest wall,
replace the chimney, and repair and reconstruct the north wall and porch due to
earthquake damage. Portions of the building were also sandblasted and re-
stuccoed at this time, and stucco was removed from the porch entrance leaving
exposed brick cladding (Permit No. 8935).
Permit issued for a garden/retaining wall project consisting of a 105 linear foot
wall with two gates (Permit No. A8802612).
1992 Permit issued for a structural retrofit (extent of work unknown) (Permit No.
A920191).
1993 Permit issued to replace floor heater and repair fire damage (Permit No.
A9301237).
1993 Permit issued to repair floor joists and beams from fire damage (Permit No.
A9301207).
2015 Permit issue to remove roof tile, replace underlayment, and reinstall existing tile
(Permit No. B00-048-959).
Dates Unknown All original stucco wall cladding replaced with a rougher textured stucco (likely in
1988 during earthquake repair work)
Brick pathway replaced with concrete
AC units added
Shutters added
Secondary door replaced
Secondary entrance railing added
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B. Statement of Significance
Summary
The building at 324 S. 1st Avenue meets the following criterion for designation as an Arcadia Historic
Landmark:
1. It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of
Arcadia’s or California’s history.
The Arcadia Woman’s Club building is significant under Local Criterion 1 for its association with early
institutional development in the city. Home to one of the city’s oldest community organizations, the
Woman’s Club building has served as the location of numerous Club events, lectures, philanthropy
endeavors, and military relief programs for the benefit of members and fellow Arcadians. Constructed in
1931, the building has functioned as the home of the Woman’s Club of Arcadia for 90 years and has
played a crucial role in developing community engagement in the city.
Historical Background
Institutional Development in Arcadia (1910-1935)
Like other Southern California cities, Arcadia was established as affordable train fares and attractive
weather lured people from across the country in the late 1800s. A nascent business district and the
area’s earliest residences sprang up in the 1880s, but minimal institutional development occurred until
after the turn of the 20th century. By 1904, Arcadia had a school district, a city newspaper, and a number
of active liquor licenses. Residential growth was slow, but institutional development lagged even
further, with no churches or other social organizations beyond the school and newspaper finding a
foothold in Arcadia for a few years.
The most crucial developments at this time were in the realm of infrastructure, notably transportation
networks of railroads, streetcar lines, and roads. These networks were key to the success of early
Arcadia, starting with the establishment of rail services, quickly moving to the construction of local
roads, and reaching their zenith with the addition of streetcar service along what is now Huntington
Drive in 1903. While the railroad and streetcar lines are no longer present, their routes remain etched
on the physical layout of Arcadia in the form of wide streets with medians cutting diagonally through the
otherwise rectilinear grid of the city.
Institutional development finally began to catch up with the rest of Arcadia, most visibly in the form of
schools. First Avenue School (originally Arcadia Grammar School; 301 S. 1st Ave.) was constructed with
1919 bond funds to serve over 200 students, and in 1926 it was joined by Holly Avenue School at 360 W.
Duarte Rd. in the western part of town. And as the city’s population continued to grow, the need for a
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permanent location for its local governing bodies was apparent. In 1918, Arcadia completed its first City
Hall (no longer extant) at the northwest corner of Huntington Drive and 1st Avenue.2
One of the most notable institutional developments of the 1910s was the establishment of the Ross
Field Balloon School for the training of observation balloon crews during World War I. Constructed by
the U.S. War Department, this facility trained soldiers to operate large hydrogen balloons in order to
observe enemy position and movements. The training camp was located where Arcadia County Park and
Santa Anita Golf Course are now.
Other institutions established during the 1910s and 1920s included an American Legion post, a public
library, a Chamber of Commerce, several fraternal orders, a riding and hunting club, a baseball club, a
golf club, and the Woman’s Club of Arcadia.3 Few of these institutional resources from the period
between 1910-1935 remain intact in the city, making the Woman’s Club building a rare and important
example of early institutional development in Arcadia.
The Woman’s Club of Arcadia
The Woman’s Club of Arcadia was first organized as a social club in 1914 by Alice Billings. Soon, the
organization’s endeavors turned to philanthropy, civic improvement, and promotional work for the city,
aligning with many fraternal and sororal collectives that were initiated throughout the country after the
turn of the 20th century. Originally known as the “Co-operative Arcadians” the group’s motto was,
“Arcadia—Her asset is beauty, her aim is progress.”4 Alice Billings was chosen as the first president of
the 12-member group, and dues were set at 25 cents a month. Early meetings were held in various
member’s homes, community halls, and eventually Arcadia City Hall.
In addition to lectures and philanthropic activity, the Arcadia Woman’s Club’s earliest projects included
annual floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade and the creation of a small library and reading room.
This library was the first Los Angeles County library branch to open within the City of Arcadia, and while
City Council paid the rental fee for the library space, all books, furnishings, programming, and employee
pay were provided by the Woman’s Club. In 1920 a successful ballot measure assured that the City was
finally able to fund a municipal library, and the new collection was given a small room in City Hall.
Wartime efforts dominated the activities of the Woman’s Club following the United States’ entry into
World War I. The Arcadia women organized support for the Red Cross as well as local military outposts
like the Ross Field Balloon School. One of the Woman’s Club’s most successful fundraisers sold ice cream
and soft drinks at the Balloon School during an Army air show.
2 Architectural Resources Group, “Arcadia Citywide Historic Resources Survey Report,” Prepared for the City of
Arcadia, Development Services, Planning Division, 2017, 47.
3 Gordon S. Eberly, Arcadia: City of the Santa Anita (Claremont, CA: Saunders Press, 1953), 57, 64.
4 Mattie B. Peck, “The Woman’s Club of Arcadia,” San Gabriel Valley Digest, April 1930.
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Other early projects included the construction of a public drinking fountain and the beautification of the
Second Avenue Park. In 1920 the Cooperative Arcadians organization had grown large enough to join
the Los Angeles District and California Federation of Women’s Clubs, whereby the group officially
changed their name to “The Woman’s Club of Arcadia.” By 1924 the Arcadia Club had joined the
National Federation as well. Around this time, the group changed their slogan to “Let Us Build
Together.”5
The Arcadia Woman’s Club’s commitment to horticulture and city beautification came to fruition in 1926
when the group hosted Arcadia’s first flower show, the Chrysanthemum Fete. The successful event
became an annual showcase for the Club’s active Garden Section. Later floral events included the Peach
Blossom Festival and countless garden parties, luncheons, and fundraisers. Other sections throughout
the Club’s history have included groups dedicated to Public Affairs, Travel, Music and Choral, Arts and
Crafts, Drama, Law, Literature, Philanthropy, the Conservation of Wildlife, the Bible, and California
History and Landmarks. The Club was also at times organized with administrative sub-groups such as the
Membership, Decoration, Ways and Means, Courtesy, Social, Press, and Door committees.
By 1925 the Woman’s Club, consistently growing in membership, realized the need for a permanent
clubhouse. A fund was begun that year, and in 1930 the organization purchased the two lots at the
corner of S. 1st Avenue and Diamond Street for $1,800. Fundraising for the new clubhouse was a primary
concern of the Woman’s Club for many years, and money was raised through private donation,
luncheons, bake sales, and entertainment events. Plans for the building were drawn by Monrovia
architect Frank O. Eager, and the construction contract was awarded to Arcadia builder C.P. Cassady.6
Construction was planned in three phases, with the clubhouse meeting hall (phase one) set at the back
of the two lots to allow for a foyer addition (phase two) and larger auditorium (phase three, unbuilt). A
groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 4, 1931, and the dedication of the clubhouse was held on
July 31, 1931.7
Interest in the Woman’s Club did not waver despite the Great Depression, and in 1937 the Junior
Woman’s Club was established to engage women between 18-35 years old. This energetic organization
promoted the civic-minded causes of the Woman’s Club until the group’s numbers dwindled in the
1990s.
In the 1941 the second phase of clubhouse construction, which added a foyer to the west of the original
building and a sunroom to the east, was completed by C.P. Cassady. The timing of this construction was
convenient as the added space allowed the Woman’s Club to organize quickly and efficiently to once
again be of service to wartime efforts. The clubhouse served as a USO and Red Cross station throughout
5 Emma D. Meade, “39 Years of Progress: The Woman’s Club of Arcadia,” 1953. Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage
Collection.
6 “Women Dedicate Clubhouse,” Los Angeles Times, October 9, 1931.
7 Emma D. Meade, “39 Years of Progress: The Woman’s Club of Arcadia,” 1953. Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage
Collection.
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much of World War II. Club members organized entertainment for soldiers, housed the families of
servicemen and women, and sold over $20,000 in war bonds. The Woman’s Club estimates that by the
end of 1945, approximately 10,000 servicepeople had used the Club’s facilities.8
The postwar period marked a renewed interest in civic investment outside the realm of military support,
and the organization was able to focus on other activities and fundraisers. Since that time, the Arcadia
Woman’s Club has continued to serve the community through regular programming and special events
such as hosting athletes and coaches during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
Today the organization promotes and supports causes such as the Domestic Violence Action Coalition
and the Pennies for Pines Reforestation Project.9
The clubhouse building was damaged by the Whittier-Narrows earthquake in 1987. Repairs included the
replacement of the building’s exterior stucco chimney and prominent west façade window. At this time
the building was also sandblasted and restuccoed, though the brick walls at the porch were left exposed.
Only five years later the building underwent a costly structural retrofit to meet new standards for
earthquake safety. Since that time the building has remained relatively unchanged, though regular
maintenance is ongoing in 2021.
In 2014, the Arcadia Woman’s Club research material collection was donated by the organization to the
Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage. The collection, which consists of scrapbooks, photographs, newspaper
clippings, meeting minutes, financial records, and memorabilia, was later curated and digitized by the
Gilb Museum.10 In 2021 the Woman’s Club celebrated the 90th anniversary of the construction of the
clubhouse at 324 S. 1st Avenue. The organization remains committed to community engagement and
civic investment through fundraisers, volunteering activities, and monthly meetings.
Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture
The subject property embodies the characteristics of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and is a
refined and relatively modest example of the style applied to an institutional building in Arcadia. Spanish
Colonial Revival architecture gained widespread popularity throughout Southern California after the
1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. The exposition’s buildings were designed by architect
Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who wished to go beyond the popular Mission architectural
interpretations of the state’s colonial past and highlight the richness of Spanish precedents found
throughout Latin America. The exposition prompted other designers to look directly to Spain for
8 “Arcadia Woman’s Club Virtual Exhibit,” Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage,
https://www.arcadiaca.gov/Library/History%20Room/Museum/Exhibits/Arcadia%20Woman's%20Club%20Virtual
%20Exhibit_2nd_rev1.pdf.
9 “Our Services,” Arcadia Woman’s Club, accessed September 2021,
http://www.arcadiawomansclub.org/ourwork.html.
10 “Arcadia Woman’s Club Virtual Exhibit,” Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage.
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architectural inspiration. The Spanish Colonial Revival style was an attempt to create a “native”
California architectural style that drew upon and romanticized the state’s colonial past.
The popularity of the Spanish Colonial Revival style coincided with Southern California’s population
boom of the 1920s. The versatility of the style, allowing for builders and architects to construct buildings
as simple or as lavish as money would permit, helped to further spread its popularity throughout the
region. The style’s adaptability also lent its application to a variety of building types, including single-
and multi-family residences, commercial properties, and institutional buildings. Spanish Colonial Revival
architecture often borrowed from other styles such as Churrigueresque, Gothic Revival, Moorish Revival,
or Art Deco. The style is characterized by its complex building forms, stucco-clad wall surfaces, and clay
tile roofs. Spanish Colonial Revival architecture remained popular through the 1930s, with later versions
simpler in form and ornamentation. A prevalent Period Revival style in Arcadia, Spanish Colonial Revival
is typically applied to single-family residential properties in neighborhoods south of Huntington Drive.
However, there are several institutional buildings in the city that are also designed in the style.
Frank O. Eager, Architect
Architect Frank O. Eager is credited in multiple periodicals with designing the Arcadia Woman’s Club
building, though his name does not appear on building records.11 A longtime resident of Monrovia,
Eager was born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1878 and moved to California in 1901. Eager and his brother ran
the architectural firm Eager & Eager which had offices in Los Angeles. The firm designed a wide range of
buildings including residences, business buildings, schools, and other institutional structures in Southern
California and Nevada. One of Eager’s best known designs is the Leven Oaks Hotel, constructed in 1911
and still extant at 120 S. Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia (the building has been remodeled and is now used as
an assisted living facility). Eager was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 308 and was active in Monrovia
community life with his wife, Emma and son, Alvin. Frank Eager died on June 2, 1945.12
C.P. Cassady, Contractor
Born in Iowa in 1893, Clarence P. Cassady was a general contractor in the city of Arcadia for many years.
Cassady constructed a number of institutional, commercial, and residential buildings in the San Gabriel
Valley, though he was not well known outside the area. In addition to the Arcadia Woman’s Clubhouse,
Cassady also designed and built the local Glenn Dyer Post (1932, no longer extant) of the American
Legion where he served on the board of directors.13 He resided in Arcadia with his wife Ora, and children
June and Clarence J. Cassady.
C.P. Cassady was awarded the contract for the Arcadia Woman’s Club building after the organization
declared their intention to only consider local builders. Cassady’s was the lowest bid submitted at
11 “Women Dedicate Clubhouse,” Los Angeles Times, October 9, 1931.
12 “Death Claims Frank O. Eager,” Monrovia News-Post, June 2, 1945.
13 “World War Scenes Are Reenacted,” Pasadena Post, March 6, 1932.
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$6,375.14 Announcements in local newspapers in early 1931 state that the building was constructed of
brick, though photographs of the building’s opening in August 1931 appear to show that none of the
brick was left exposed, and the entire building was clad in stucco. Cassady was further involved in the
phased construction of the building and built a wood-framed sunroom and foyer addition in 1941.
However, the third phase of the building plans—for an additional auditorium—never came to fruition.
Cassady and architect Frank Eager would again collaborate in 1932 on the design and construction of the
Greater Arcadia Building-Loan Association (no longer extant).
Period of Significance
A building’s period of significance is defined as the span of time during which a property attains the
significance for which it meets local, state, or federal eligibility criteria.
For its association with the Arcadia Woman’s Club, a prominent community organization with ties to the
early development of the city, the clubhouse building’s period of significance is 1931 to 1945. This
period is most reflective of the Club’s contribution to the early institutional development of Arcadia,
prior to the city’s increased growth and development after 1945 and the end of World War II. The
period of significance includes the additions constructed in 1941 by original contractor C.P. Cassady that
were part of a phased construction plan conceived when the building was designed. The year 1945 also
marked a shift in focus for the Arcadia Woman’s Club. While the organization had been heavily involved
in wartime efforts during World Wars I and II, even serving as a USO from 1943-1945, the group was less
actively involved in military support during subsequent conflicts as Arcadia’s infrastructure fully
developed in the postwar period.
Character-Defining Features – Exterior
• Prominent corner location, set back from the street and surrounded by lawn and mature trees
• L-shaped building footprint
• Cross-gable roof covered in clay tiles (clay tile replaced in-kind)
• Stucco cladding (original stucco replaced with more textured stucco)
• Recessed entrance porch supported by wood posts with brick flooring
• Three sets of fully glazed wood French doors lining the porch
• Multi-light steel casement windows flanked by fixed sidelights at multiple façades
• Fixed and double-hung wood windows at multiple façades
• Painted wood sign that reads “The Woman’s Club of Arcadia” at the porch entrance
14 “Clubhouse Contract Awarded to Cassady,” Arcadia Tribune, April 17, 1931.
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Character-Defining Features – Interior
• Floorplan dominated by an auditorium and 1941 foyer addition surrounded by secondary, back-
of-house spaces
• Double-height auditorium with open wood-truss ceiling, wood flooring, and raised stage
• Ceramic-tiled fireplace
• Three sets of fully glazed wood French doors with glazed transoms connecting the auditorium to
the sunroom
Integrity
In addition to meeting Local Criterion 1, the Arcadia Woman’s Club building at 324 S. 1st Avenue retains
sufficient historic integrity. Historic integrity is the ability of a property to convey its significance and is
defined as the “authenticity of a property’s historic identity, evidenced by the survival of physical
characteristics that existed during the property’s prehistoric or historic period.”15 The aspects of
integrity, as defined by the National Park Service, are location, design, setting, materials, workmanship,
feeling, and association.
• Location: The clubhouse building has remained on its original lot since it was constructed in
1931 and therefore retains integrity of location.
• Design: While the building has undergone some alterations to its design, including the
replacement of its large picture window at the west façade with a smaller vinyl window, the
building’s overall form, structure, and L-shaped plan are intact from its period of significance
(1931-1945). In addition, it retains the majority of its historic Spanish Colonial Revival design
elements, including its low-pitched, cross-gable roof with clay tile roofing, stucco wall cladding,
French doors, and steel windows. Thus, it retains integrity of design.
• Setting: While the residential neighborhoods to the east and west of the subject property have
been altered with new residences in the 1970s onward, and S. 1st Avenue has experienced some
change since its initial development in the late 1910s and 1930s, the low-scale character of the
area surrounding the subject property is still largely intact. The Woman’s Club of Arcadia and
the First Avenue School (located across the street), along with a few smaller commercial
properties, continue to anchor this section of the city’s historic civic core, and S. 1st Avenue
retains enough of its historic context to reflect its early commercial and institutional growth in
central Arcadia. Thus, the subject property retains integrity of setting.
• Materials: While the clubhouse building has experienced some alterations to its original
materials, most replacements have been of similar or in-kind materials, such as its clay tile
roofing and stucco cladding. Additionally, the building retains its original brick construction and
15 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Register Bulletin 16A: How to Complete the National Register
Registration Form (Washington D.C.: National Park Service, 1997), 4.
Arcadia Woman’s Club Historic Landmark Nomination September 10, 2021
ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES GROUP 12
the majority of its original fenestration (wood French doors and steel windows). Overall, the
building retains some of its material properties from its period of significance.
• Workmanship: Alterations to the building, including replacement of its original west façade
picture window and replacement of its original stucco cladding with textured stucco, have
somewhat compromised the physical evidence of its original craftsmanship. However, because
the overall design of the building is intact and the property retains some of its original materials
(brick construction, wood French doors, steel windows), it retains its overall integrity of
workmanship from its historical period.
• Feeling: The building sits in its original location on S. 1st Avenue, Arcadia’s original commercial
and civic center, and its design is still intact. Additionally, it still retains some of its historic
materials and features that help to convey its original workmanship. It continues to express the
feeling of a pre-World War II institutional clubhouse building. Thus, it retains this aspect of
integrity.
• Association: Continuously occupied by the Woman’s Club of Arcadia for 90 years, 324 S. 1st
Avenue represents the organization’s permanent home and has served as an integral part of
Arcadia community life. Thus, it retains integrity of association.
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Bibliography
Ancestry.com (various databases). Accessed September2021. https://www.ancestry.com/.
Arcadia Public Library Special Collections, various primary sources.
Arcadia Tribune, various dates as noted in footnotes.
“Arcadia Woman’s Club Virtual Exhibit,” Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage,
https://www.arcadiaca.gov/Library/History%20Room/Museum/Exhibits/Arcadia%20Woman's%
20Club%20Virtual%20Exhibit_2nd_rev1.pdf.
Architectural Resources Group. “Arcadia Citywide Historic Resources Survey Report.” Prepared for the
City of Arcadia, Development Services, Planning Division (2017).
City of Arcadia Building Permit Center. Building permit records (various dates). Accessed September
2021. http://laserfiche.ci.arcadia.ca.us/weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=537578&cr=1
Eberly, Gordon S. Arcadia: City of the Santa Anita. Claremont, CA: Saunders Press, 1953.
Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor. Property assessment data and maps. Accessed September
2021. https://portal.assessor.lacounty.gov/.
Los Angeles Times, various dates as noted in footnotes.
Meade, Emma D. “39 Years of Progress: The Woman’s Club of Arcadia.” Gilb Museum of Arcadia
Heritage Collection. 1953.
Monrovia-News Post, various dates as noted in footnotes.
NETR Online. “Historic Aerials” (various dates). Accessed September 2021.
https://www.historicaerials.com/.
“Our Services.” Arcadia Woman’s Club. Accessed September 2021.
http://www.arcadiawomansclub.org/ourwork.html.
Pasadena Post, various dates as noted in footnotes.
Sanborn Map Company. “Arcadia, California.” 1932 map, Sheet 7.
San Gabriel Valley Digest, various dates as noted in footnotes.
Arcadia Woman’s Club Historic Landmark Nomination September 10, 2021
ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES GROUP 14
U.S. Bureau of the Census, multiple dates.
U.S. Department of the Interior. National Register Bulletin 16A: How to Complete the National Register
Registration Form. Washington, D.C.: National Park Service, 1997.
Woman’s Club of Arcadia Collection. Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage, various primary sources.
Overlays
Selected parcel highlighted
Parcel location within City of Arcadia
Yes
Property Owner(s):
Lot Area (sq ft):
Year Built:
Main Structure / Unit (sq. ft.):
MU
Number of Units:
MU
Property Characteristics
1931
5,224
0
Property Owner
Site Address:324 S 1ST AVE
Parcel Number: 5779-002-001
N/A
Zoning:
General Plan:
Yes
Downtown Overlay:
Downtown Parking Overlay:
Architectural Design Overlay:N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Residential Flex Overlay:
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Special Height Overlay:
N/A
Parking Overlay:
Racetrack Event Overlay:
This map is a user generated static output from an Internet mapping site and is for
reference only. Data layers that appear on this map may or may not be accurate, current,
or otherwise reliable.
Report generated 13-Dec-2021
Page 1 of 1
Attachment No. 3
Arcadia Woman’s Club – site and surrounding area photos
Page 1 of 13
Photo references for the Arcadia Woman’s Club (identified with red border) and surrounding area.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
16
17
21
20
15
19
14
18
First Avenue
Middle School
Page 2 of 13
Figure 1 Looking toward the southeast corner of California Street and S1st Ave
Figure 2 Looking south on S. 1st Avenue. The Arcadia Woman's Club is behind the low cream colored block wall.
Page 3 of 13
Figure 3 Looking north on S. 1st Avenue. The red building is adjacent to the Arcadia Woman's Club building.
Figure 4 Looking east toward the front facade of the Arcadia Woman's Club building
Page 4 of 13
Figure 5 Looking toward the north east corner of S. 1st Ave and Diamond Street, toward the Arcadia Woman's Club building.
Figure 6 Looking north toward the Diamond Street facade of the Arcadia Woman's Club.
Page 5 of 13
Figure 7 Looking east along Diamond Street. Photo taken outside Arcadia Woman's Club building.
Figure 8 Looking toward the Arcadia Woman's Club building from the corner of Diamond Street and S. 1st Ave.
Page 6 of 13
Figure 9 Diamond Street facade of the Arcadia Woman's Club building, looking in the direction of S. 1st Ave.
Figure 10 Looking north at the rear of the Arcadia Woman's Club building.
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Figure 11 The rear of the Arcadia Woman's Club building showing the 1941 sunroom addition.
Figure 12 Adjacent property to the rear of the Arcadia Woman's Club: 113 Diamond Street.
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Figure 13 Residential properties opposite the Arcadia Woman's Club on Diamond Street.
Figure 14 Front facade of the Arcadia Woman's Club building showing the vinyl window replacement.
Page 9 of 13
Figure 15 Front facade of the Arcadia Woman's Club showing the covered porch.
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Figure 16 Under the covered porch looking north.
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Figure 17 Under the covered porch looking south.
Page 12 of 13
Figure 18 Looking east from the covered porch towards S. 1st Avenue and First Avenue Middle School.
Figure 19 Front facade of the Arcadia Woman's Club building showing the 1941 foyer addition.
Page 13 of 13
Figure 20 Looking east across 1st Avenue from the Arcadia Woman's Club toward First Avenue Middle School.
Figure 21 Looking south along S. 1st Avenue from the front of the Arcadia Woman's Club.
Attachment No. 4
DATE: January 25, 2022
TO: Honorable Chair and Historic Preservation Commission
FROM: Lisa L. Flores, Planning & Community Development Administrator
By: Fiona Graham, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 2086 – RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVE HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. HL 21-01 WITH A
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (“CEQA”) TO LANDMARK THE
ARCADIA WOMAN’S CLUB AT 324 S. FIRST AVENUE
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2086
SUMMARY
The Applicant, Cheryl Alberg, President of the Arcadia Woman’s Club and Marilyn Daleo
on behalf of the Arcadia Woman’s Club, a non-profit organization, is requesting that the
City Council approve Historical Landmark No. HL 21-01 to designate the Arcadia
Woman’s Club building as a historical landmark at 324 S. 1st Avenue. It is recommended
that the Historic Preservation Commission find this landmark designation is categorically
exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and adopt Resolution
No. 2086 (Attachment No. 1) recommending that the City Council approve the
designation.
BACKGROUND
On November 15, 2021, the President of the Arcadia Woman’s Club applied to designate
their property as a historical landmark. The subject property is a 14,115 square foot corner
lot that is located at the northeast corner of S. 1st Avenue and Diamond Street, fronting
west onto S. 1st Avenue – refer to Attachment No. 2. The site is improved with a 5,224
square foot one-story building that was constructed in 1931, as shown below. The site
has decorative landscaping and mature growth trees including oak and ash trees with a
non-original, brick-topped stucco wall with wrought-iron front entry gate in front of the
property, as shown in the image below. The property has always been owned by the
Arcadia Woman’s Club, a non-profit organization. The building is currently used for a
variety of community-focused, event and philanthropic activities.
Resolution No. 2086– HL 21-01
324 S. 1st Avenue
January 25, 2022 – Page 2 of 12
As part of this landmark’s nomination process, the building was evaluated for local
designation by a professional Architectural Historian, Ms. St. Charles from Architectural
Resources Group (ARG). Refer to Attachment No. 3 for the Historical Report.
The Arcadia Woman’s Club building was built by the Arcadia Woman’s Club to serve as
its headquarters and events space. The building has been continuously used by the
Arcadia Woman’s Club since its construction.
In terms of architectural style, the Woman’s Club building is of Spanish Colonial Revival.
The one-story, L-shaped building is made of brick, textured stucco, and wood frame
construction. The historic west facing façade is asymmetrical, reflecting the 1931 original
façade to the north and the 1941 foyer addition to the south created the building’s L-
shaped plan.
The front of the building features a covered porch. A wood sign reading “The Woman’s
Club of Arcadia” hangs from the porch roof. The south facing building that fronts Diamond
Street has a single, unornamented wood door covered by a small stucco canopy with a
clay tile roof and curving supports and which is accessed by a set of concrete steps with
metal railings. The eastern most portion of the façade is part of a 1941 sunroom addition
which has a small concrete and stucco porch with steps and metal railings . This area
contains two other secondary entries. The building’s north façade largely abuts the
parcel’s northern boundary and fronts on a surface parking lot that is not associated with
the Woman’s Club.
324 S. 1st
A
v
e
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324 S. 1st Avenue
January 25, 2022 – Page 3 of 12
Arcadia Woman’s Club building, eastern façade as seen from S. 1st Avenue.
Southern façade of the Arcadia Woman’s Club building as seen from Diamond Street.
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Looking south-east toward the front façade of the Arcadia Woman’s Club
and the 1941 foyer addition. Diamond Street is behind the wall.
Front façade of the Arcadia Woman’s Club. Visible is the covered porch
and hanging wood sign. To the right is the 1941 foyer addition.
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January 25, 2022 – Page 5 of 12
C. Documented Changes to the Property
Since original construction in 1931, the property has undergone two major changes.
Concurrent with the growth and success of the Arcadia Woman’s Club, the clubhouse
building was enlarged with planned additions at the primary and rear façades. Other than
these additions, the greatest alterations to the structure have been repairs and retrofits
following the 1987 Whittier-Narrows earthquake.
1931 Permit issued to erect a building at 324 S. 1st Avenue.
1941 Permit issued for the addition of a sunroom (at th e east façade) and foyer (at
the southwest end of the building).
1973 Permit issued to re-roof entire tiled roof with new tiles.
1988 Permit issued to replace the west window, reconstruct the southwest wall,
replace the chimney, and repair and reconstruct the north wall and porch due to
earthquake damage. Portions of the building were also sandblasted and re -
stuccoed at this time, and stucco was removed from the porch entrance leaving
exposed brick cladding.
Permit issued for a garden/retaining wall project consisting of a 105 linear foot
wall with two gates.
1992 Permit issued for a structural retrofit.
1993 Permit issued to replace floor heater, repair floor joists and beams joists and
repair other fire damage.
2015 Permit issue to remove roof tile, replace underlayment, and reinstall existing tile .
In addition to the above known changes, there are also several observed alterations for
which documentation could not be identified. These include:
• All original stucco wall cladding replaced with a rougher textured stucco (likely in
1988 during earthquake repair work)
• Brick pathway replaced with concrete
• AC units added
• Shutters added
• Secondary door replaced
• Secondary entrance railing added
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January 25, 2022 – Page 6 of 12
ANALYSIS
The Historic Landmark requirements in Subsection 9103.17.060 of the Development
Code requires that the Historic Preservation Commission forward a recommendation to
the City Council on whether the individual resource (building, structure, object, or site)
should be designated as a landmark on the basis that it meets one or more of the following
local eligibility criteria.
The potential historic resource must also be at least 45 years of age, unless it can be
demonstrated that the resource has achieved exceptional importance within the last 45
years (Development Code Section 9103.17.060(C)). The building was constructed in
1931 and is therefore 90 years old as of 2 021, meeting the age requirement.
The Commission may consider, among other relevant factors, the following criteria in
making the findings:
1. It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad
patterns of Arcadia's or California's history;
2. It is associated with the lives of persons important to local or California history;
3. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of
construction, or represents the work of master, or possesses high artistic values;
4. It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory
or history of the city or state.
Based on the historical evaluation that was prepared by Architectural Resources Group
(ARG), the building meets two of the four criteria, which are criteria no. 1 and 3 on the
basis the building was associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the broad patterns of the City’s history and its architectural style of the building, Spanish
Colonial Revival.
Criterion 1: It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the broad patterns of Ar cadia's or California's history.
Facts to Support This Criteria: The Arcadia Woman’s Club building is significant under
this criterion for its association with early institutional development in the City. Home to
one of the City’s oldest community organizations, the Arcadia Woman’s Club building
has served as the location of numerous Club events, lectures, philanthropy endeavors,
and military relief programs utilizing the building as a United Service Organizations
(USO) and Red Cross station throughout much of World War II for the benefit of
members and fellow Arcadians. Constructed in 1931, the building has functioned as the
home of the Arcadia Woman’s Club for 90 years and has played a crucial role in
developing community engagement in the City. The information below explains its
significant contribution this property and building have made to Arcadia’s history.
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Institutional Development in Arcadia (1910 -1935)
Arcadia was established as a town in the late 1800’s. A small business district and the
area’s earliest residences began growing in the 1880s, but minimal institutional
development occurred until after the turn of the 20th century. The City incorporated in
1903 and by 1904, had a school district, a city newspaper, and a number of active liquor
licenses. Residential growth was slow and institution development was negligible with
no churches or other social organizations beyond the school and newspaper operating
in Arcadia for a few years after incorporation .
The most crucial developments around time were in the realm of infrastructu re, notably
transportation networks of railroads, streetcar lines, and roads. These networks were
key to the success of early Arcadia.
In the late 1910s, institutional development began to increase primarily in the form of
schools. First Avenue School (ori ginally Arcadia Grammar School; 301 S. 1st Ave.) was
constructed with 1919 bond funds to serve over 200 students, and in 1926 it was joined
by Holly Avenue School at 360 W. Duarte Rd. As the city’s population continued to grow,
the need for a permanent location for its local governing bodies was apparent. In 1918,
Arcadia completed its first City Hall (no longer extant) at the northwest corner of
Huntington Drive and 1st Avenue.
Other institutions established during the 1910s and 1920s included an American Legion
post, a public library, a Chamber of Commerce, several fraternal orders, a riding and
hunting club, a baseball club, a golf club, and the Woman’s Club of Arcadia. Few of
these institutional resources from the period between 1910-1935 remain intact in the
city, making the Woman’s Club building a rare and important example of early
institutional development in Arcadia.
The Woman’s Club of Arcadia
The Arcadia Woman’s Club was first organized as a social club in 1914 by Alice Billings.
Soon, the organization’s endeavors turned to philanthropy, civic improvement, and
promotional work for the city, aligning with many fraternal and sororal collectives that were
initiated throughout the country after the turn of the 20th century. The group was originally
known as the “Co-operative Arcadians” and early meetings were held in various
member’s homes, community halls, and eventually Arcadia City Hall.
In addition to lectures and philanthropic activity, the Arcadia Woman’s Club’s earliest
projects included annual floats in the Tournament of Roses Parade and the creation of a
small library and reading room. This library was the first Los Angeles County library
branch to open within the City of Arcadia, and while City Council paid the rental fee for
the library space, all books, furnishings, programming, and employee pay were provided
by the Woman’s Club. In 1920 a successful ballot measure assured that the City was
finally able to fund a municipal library, and the new collection was given a small room in
City Hall.
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Wartime efforts dominated the activities of the Woman’s Club following the United States’
entry into World War I. The Arcadia women organized support for the Red Cross as well
as local military outposts like the Ross Field Balloon School. One of th e Woman’s Club’s
most successful fundraisers sold ice cream and soft drinks at the Balloon School during
an Army air show. Other early projects included the construction of a public drinking
fountain and the beautification of the Second Avenue Park.
In 1920 the Cooperative Arcadians organization had grown large enough to join the Los
Angeles District and California Federation of Women’s Clubs, whereby the group officially
changed their name to “The Woman’s Club of Arcadia” and by 1924 the Arcadia Club had
joined the National Federation as well.
The Arcadia Woman’s Club’s commitment to horticulture and city beautification came to
fruition in 1926 when the group hosted Arcadia’s first flower show, the Chrysanthemum
Fete. The successful event became an annual showcase for the Club’s active Garden
Section. Later floral events included the Peach Blossom Festival and countless garden
parties, luncheons, and fundraisers. Other sections throughout the Club’s history have
included groups dedicated to Public Affairs, Travel, Music and Choral, Arts and Crafts,
Drama, Law, Literature, Philanthropy, the Conservation of Wildlife, the Bible, and
California History and Landmarks.
By 1925 the Woman’s Club, consistently growing in membership, realized the need for a
permanent clubhouse. A fundraiser began that year, and in 1930 the organization
purchased the two lots at the corner of S. 1st Avenue and Diamond Street for $1,800.
Fundraising for the new clubhouse was a primary concern of the Woman’s Club for many
years, and money was raised through private donation, luncheons, bake sales, and
entertainment events.
Plans for the building were drawn by Monrovia Architect Frank O. Eager, and the
construction contract was awarded to Arcadia builder C.P. Cassady. Construction was
planned in three phases, with the clubhouse meeting hall as phase one that was set at
the back of the two lots to allow for a foyer addition, which was phase two, and then a
larger auditorium, as phase three, but never built. A groundbreaking ceremony was held
on May 4, 1931, and the dedication of the clubhouse was held on July 31, 1931.
In the 1941 the second phase of clubhouse construction, which added a foyer to the west
of the original building and a sunroom to the east, was completed by builder C.P.
Cassady. The timing of this construction was convenient as the added space allowed the
Woman’s Club to organize quickly and efficiently to once again be of service to wartime
efforts. The clubhouse served as a United Service Organizations (USO) and Red Cross
station throughout much of World War II. Club members organized entertainment for
soldiers, housed the families of servicemen and women, and sold over $20,000 in war
bonds. The Woman’s Club estimates that by the end of 1945, approximately 10,000
service people had used the Club’s facilities.
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The postwar period marked a renewed interest in civic investment outside the realm of
military support, and the organization was able to focus on other activities and
fundraisers. Since that time, the Arcadia Woman’s Club has continued to serve the
community through regular programming and special events such as hosting athletes and
coaches during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. Today the
organization promotes and supports causes such as the Domestic Violence Action
Coalition and the Pennies for Pines Reforestation Project.
In 2021 the Woman’s Club celebrated the 90th anniversary of the clubhouse at 324 S. 1st
Avenue. The organization remains committed to community engagement and civic
investment through fundraisers, volunteering activities, and monthly meetings.
Criterion 3: It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or
method of construction, or represents the work of master, or possesses high
artistic values.
Facts to Support This Criteria: The Arcadia Woman’s Club building is significant under
this criterion because the building embodies the distinctive characteristics of the
Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style. The subject property is a refined and
relatively modest example of that style applied to an institutional building. The building
remains relatively intact and retains many important features of Spanish Colonial
Revival architecture. Character defining features of the building’s exterior include:
cross-gable roof covered in cl ay tiles, stucco cladding, covered entrance porch
supported by wood posts with brick flooring, and fixed and double -hung wood windows.
The information below further explains why this building’s is a good example of this
architecture.
Spanish Colonial Reviv al architecture gained widespread popularity throughout
Southern California after the 1915 Panama -California Exposition in San Diego. The
exposition’s buildings were designed by Architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who
wished to go beyond the popular Missi on architectural interpretations of the state’s
colonial past and highlight the richness of Spanish precedents found throughout Latin
America. The exposition prompted other designers to look directly to Spain for
architectural inspiration. The Spanish Colo nial Revival style was an attempt to create a
“native” California architectural style that drew upon and romanticized the state’s
colonial past.
The versatility of the style, allowing for builders and architects to construct buildings as
simple or as lavish as desired, made the style popular throughout Southern California.
The style’s adaptability also lent its application to a variety of building types, including
single- and multi-family residences, commercial properties, and institutional buildings.
Spanish Colonial Revival architecture often borrowed from other styles such as
Churrigueresque, Gothic Revival, Moorish Revival, or Art Deco. The styl e is
characterized by its complex building forms, stucco -clad wall surfaces, and clay tile
roofs.
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Spanish Colonial Revival architecture remained popular through the 1930s, with later
versions simpler in form and ornamentation. A prevalent Period Revival st yle in Arcadia,
Spanish Colonial Revival is typically applied to single -family residential properties in
neighborhoods south of Huntington Drive. However, there are several institutional
buildings in the city that are also designed in the style.
The Arcadia Woman’s Club building retains original and significant Spanish Colonial
Revival architectural features including the following:
• The original covered porch with square wood posts, brick floor and stucco
ceiling;
• Stucco building exterior ;
• Red clay roof tiles;
• Low-pitched, cross-gable roof form;
• Architectural details such as exposed rafter tails, clay tile coping, and small
decorative pipe vents with grilles ;
• Multi-pane casement and double hung windows with decorative shutters ;
• Three sets of fully glazed wood French doors lining the porch ; and
• L-shaped building footprint.
Additionally, the building is in a prominent corner location, setback from the street and
is surrounded by lawn and mature trees.
The building was designed by Frank O. Eager, who ran an architectural firm, Eager &
Eager in Los Angeles. Eager & Eager designed a wide range of buildings including
residences, business buildings, schools, and other institutional Str uctures in Southern
California and Nevada.
In addition to the requirements listed above, an individual resource must satisfy at least
one of the following requirements :
1. It is listed on the National and/or California Register of Historic Places
The subject site is not listed on the National or California Register of Historic
Places.
2. It is an iconic property
The Arcadia Woman’s Club building is an iconic property within the City because
the building has undergone relatively few changes in the last 90 years. The
property houses one of the oldest institutions in the City, the Arcadia Woman’s
Club. The Arcadia Woman’s Club has a long history of supporting the City, its
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January 25, 2022 – Page 11 of 12
residents, and the community, and is inextricably linked with the City’s history
and development over the past century.
ARG has assigned the building with a California Historical Res ource Status Code
3CS/5S3 - appears eligible for individual listing in the California Register and as an
Arcadia Landmark. If the building is designated as a local landmark, the status code
would change to the Status Code of 5S1 – individual property that is listed or designated
locally.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
It has been determined that the designation of a historic resource is categorically exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15308, Class
8, pertaining to actions by regulatory agencies for the protection of the environment. Refer
Attachment No. 4 for the Preliminary Exemption Assessment.
PUBLIC NOTICE/COMMENTS
Public hearing notices for this item were mailed to the owners of those properties that are
located within 300 feet of the subject property and published in the Arcadia Weekly on
January 6, 2022. As of January 21, 2022, staff did not receive any concerns or comments
related to the historical designation.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the Historic Preservation Commission adopt Resolution No. 2086,
recommending that the City Council find that the project is categorically exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approve Historical Landmark No. HL
21-02, designating the Arcadia Woman’s Club building at 324 S. 1st Avenue as a historical
landmark.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ACTION
If the Historic Preservation Commission intends to recommend City Council approval of
this project, the Commission should move to recommend the City Council adopt the
historic landmark designation, state that the proposal meets the requisite criteria, adopt
the attached Resolution No. 2086 that incorporates the requisite environmental and
historic landmark designation criteria, and direct staff to prepare a report that incorporates
the Commission’s recommendation for review by the City Council.
If any Historic Preservation Commission, or other interested party has any questions or
comments regarding this matter prior to the January 25, 2022 hearing, please contact
Planning Services Manager, Fiona Graham at (626) 574-5442, or by email at
fgraham@ArcadiaCA.gov.
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Approved:
Lisa L. Flores
Planning & Community Development Administrator
Attachment No. 1: Resolution No. 2086
Attachment No. 2: Aerial Photo with Zoning Information and Photos of the Subject
Property and Vicinity
Attachment No. 3: Historical Evaluation of the Arcadia Woman’s Club
Attachment No. 4: Preliminary Exemption Assessment
Preliminary Exemption Assessment FORM “A”
PRELIMINARY EXEMPTION ASSESSMENT
(Certificate of Determination
When Attached to Notice of Exemption)
Date: December 16, 2021 Staff: Fiona Graham, Planning Services Manager
1.Name or description of project:HL 21-01 – Historic Landmark with a Categorical Exemption
under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to
landmark the Arcadia Woman’s Club at 324 S. First Avenue.
2.Project Location – Identify street
address and cross streets or
attach a map showing project site
(preferably a USGS 15’ or 7 1/2’
topographical map identified by
quadrangle name):
324 S. 1st Avenue – The property is located on S. 1st Avenue,
on the northeast corner of 1st Avenue and Diamond Street.
3.Entity or person undertaking
project:
A.
B.Other (Private)
(1)Name Cheryl Alberg and Marilyn Daleo, on
behalf of the Arcadia Woman’s Club.
(2)Address 324 S. 1st Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007
4.Staff Determination:
The Lead Agency’s Staff, having undertaken and completed a preliminary review of this project in
accordance with the Lead Agency's "Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA)" has concluded that this project does not require further environmental
assessment because:
a. The proposed action does not constitute a project under CEQA.
b. The project is a Ministerial Project.
c. The project is an Emergency Project.
d. The project constitutes a feasibility or planning study.
e. The project is categorically exempt.
Applicable Exemption Class: 15308 – Class 8 (Actions by regulatory agencies for
the protection of the environment)
f. The project is statutorily exempt.
Applicable Exemption:
g. The project is otherwise
exempt on the following basis:
h. The project involves another public agency which constitutes the Lead Agency.
Name of Lead Agency:
Attachment No. 5